Zarembski, Allan M.Palese, J. W.Katz, Leonid2022-05-162022-05-161999-01Zarembski, A.M, Palese, J.W., and Katz, Leonid “Implementation of a Dynamic Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Transition”, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, January, 1999.https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/30879A concern of railroad maintenance engineers is the abrupt change in vertical track stiffness or "modulus" associated with railroad/highway grade crossings. This abrupt change frequently results in increased dynamic wheel loading, increased/accelerated track degradation and poor ride quality. In order to control these increased loading effects and their associated maintenance problems (and costs) the concept of a transition grade crossing design was developed. The intent of this design was to "smooth" the transition from normal track to the stiffer grade crossing structure to minimize the dynamic impact forces associated with the stiffness transition into the crossing. This paper presents the results of an FRA sponsored study of a modified crossing system. The study consisted of an analytical phase, which determined the type of transition required, a design phase which took a conventional concrete crossing design and introduced a series of transition zones, and a testing phase. In the latter phase, a modified PREMIER Concrete Railroad Crossings STEP-PANEL Crossing was manufactured and installed at the Bates Mill Road Crossing of the high-speed NJ Transit Atlantic-City Line, in the vicinity of Atco, NJ. Results of high-speed vertical -dynamics measurements, performed on the Bates Mill Crossing, supported the results of the analytical modeling, and showed that the use of the transition resulted in the elimination of approximately 60 - 70% of the additional dynamic loading at the crossing.Rail-highway grade-crossingDynamic ImpactRide quality